You’ve decided to take your home search from casually scrolling Zillow to touring properties in-person. Now what?
As a real estate agent with over a decade of experience working with first-time homebuyers, I’ve seen one major mistake again and again: confusing a flimsy flip for a high-quality renovation.
In real estate, we often refer to homes that have undergone quick, cheap cosmetic updates as “lipstick on a pig” or, my personal favorite, “glitter on a rat’s ass.”
A fresh coat of paint, new appliances and some light staging can go a long way in making a home look great. And to the untrained eye, it’s easy to fall for the shiny stuff. But if a home seems amazing at first glance, it’s worth digging deeper.
One of the most important questions homebuyers need to ask is: Did the seller invest in real improvements, or did they just make the house pretty for a fast sale?
